Device for applying covers to receptacles



April 15, 1958 .1. E. ANNEN DEVICE FOR APPLYING COVERS TO RECEPTACLESFiled Jan. 31, 1955 INVENTOR. famz'si'. Anne? W VQ c. 041

ATTORNEY.

United States Patent DEVICE FOR APPLYING COVERS T0 RECEPTACLES James E.Annen, Kalamazoo, Mich assignor to Sutherland Paper Company, Kalamazoo,Mich.

This invention relates to a device for applying covers to receptacles,particularly paper receptacles, for example, cups and the like.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a portable manually operated device for applying papercovers to paper cups or like receptacles which may be conveniently andrapidly manipulated to effectively secure the cover to the receptacle ina substantially sealed and liquid tight manner.

Second, to provide a device having these advantages in which the coveris applied by a single downward thrust stroke.

Third, to provide a device of this character in which a cover of paperstock is so supported during the application thereof to the receptaclethat no portion of the cover is distorted or weakened.

Fourth, to provide a structure having these advantages in which the rimof the cover is embracingly folded around the rim of the receptaclethroughout.

Fifth, to provide a device of this character which is simple andeconomical in its parts, readily assembled and once assembled the partsare retained in assembled relation with relatively few screws orsecuring elements.

Further objects relating to details and economies of the invention willappear from the description to follow. The invention is defined andpointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary elevational and sectional view showing areceptacle and cover with the cover applying device of my inventionassociated therewith in fully actuated position, parts being sectionedon a line 11 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan View on a line corresponding to broken line2-2 of Fig. l with the hand piece omitted.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view corresponding to that ofFig. l with the jaws in retracted position.

Fig. 4 is an inside perspective view of one of the forming jaws.

It will be understood that the term paper is here used in the sense thatit is commonly applied to cups and like receptacles formed of fiberstock.

In the accompanying drawing 1 represents a cup-like receptacle providedwith an annular outtumed beadlike rim 2.

The cover 3 is provided with a rim 4 which is embracingly folded aroundthe rim 2 of the receptacle. The cover is initially formed with the edge5 of the rim projecting downwardly so that the cover may be positionedon the receptacle as is shown in-Fig. 3, and with the edge of the rimpositioned to be wrappingly folded around the rim of the receptacle, asis shown in Fig. 1.

My cover applying device, as illustrated in the drawing, comprises ahead member 6 provided with a handle or grip 7 disposed centrallythereof. The head member is ice provided with a downwardly projectingperipheral flange 8 terminating in an annular inwardly facingtransversely curved rib or bead-like bearing member 9. The supportmember 10 'is generally cylindrical and is disposed centrally within andwith its periphery spaced from the head member flange 8 and its bearingmember 9. The support member is provided with an annular groove-likebearing 11 opposed but spaced from the bearing 9 of the head member. Thebearing 11 is likewise transversely curved. The segmental complimentaryforming jaws 12 are arranged to provide an annular series and areprovided with groove-like bearings 13 coacting with the bearings 9 ofthe head member and rib-like bearings 14 coacting with the groove-likebearings of the support member 10.

I When the support member 10 is positioned upon a cover disposed on areceptacle, as shown in Fig. 3, and the head member actuated axially ofthe support member, the jaws are closed to wrap the depending edge 5 ofthe cover rim around the rim of the receptacle. To securely hold thecover is position during this operation, the

support member is provided with a flat face 15 which engages the coverthroughout the area thereof and with a downwardly facing annular groove16 surrounding the face 15 engaging the top of the rim portion of thecover so that the cover is held against any slipping or sliding movementor other distortion as its edge is folded or wrapped around theunderside of the rim of the receptacle. The device is released from thecovered receptacle merely by lifting therefrom. The upward lift on thebead member retracts the jaws to the position shown in Fig. 3. The jawsare provided with inturned tips 17 having curved faces 18 conformed tothe curvature of the completely wrapped or closed cover rim, see Fig. 1.

To facilitate assembling the support member is formed of lower and uppersections 19 and 25 respectively, the joint line of the sections being ina plane centrally of the bearing 11. In assembling, the upper section ispositioned within the head member with the jaws disposed therearound andin engagement with the bearing of the head member 9. The bottom sectionof the support is then positioned and secured by means of screws 20which secure the parts in assembled relation.

In the embodiment illustrated, the head member is provided with a hole21 through which the screws 20 may be manipulated.

To limit the closing movement of the jaws, the support member isprovided with an annular stop member surface 22 to permit full openingmovement, and also to provide clearance for the jaws and a stop, theupper edge of the support member is beveled at 23. However, the insideof the flange of the head member also serves as a stop limiting theclosing movement. It is quite important that the closing movement of thejaws be limited to prevent injury to the cup or receptacle and permit arapid thrust cover applying stroke.

The device of my invention is portable, of light weight, andmechanically adapted for manual operation by unskilled iversons. Whilethe device is desirable for use in various relations, it is particularlydesirable for use in the dispensing of filled receptacles, for example,in the dispensing of beverages and other products which are commonlyfilled and dispensed directly to the customer.

I have illustrated and described my invention in an embodiment thereofwhich I found to be highly practical. I have not attempted to describeother embodiments or adaptations, as it is believed this disclosurewould enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt the same as maybe desired.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for applying covers having bendable rims to receptacleshaving outwardly projecting curved rims, the device comprising a headmember provided with a hand piece and having a downwardly projectingannular flange provided at its lower edge with an annular inwardlyprojecting transversely curved rib-like bearing, a support member havinga flat cover engaging face surrounded by an annular downwardly facingtransversely curved rim receiving groove, said support member having anannular transversely curved groove-like bearing opposed to said bearingof said head member, and a plurality of independent segmentalcomplementary forming jaws having transversely curved bearings rockablyengaging the hear ing of said support member and having outwardly facingcurved bearings coacting with said bearing on said head member wherebythe jaws are actuated by relative axial movement of th, head and supportmembers, said jaws having inwardly projecting tips with curved faces forengagement with the edge portion of. a cover rim to wrap it around therim of the receptacle to which the cover is applied, said support memberhaving stops above and below its said bearing for limiting the movementof the aws.

2. A device for applying covers having bendable rims to receptacleshaving outwardly projecting rims, the device comprising a head memberprovided with a hand piece and having a downwardly projecting annularflange pro'dded at its lower edge with an annular inwardly projectingtransversely curved rib-like bearing, a support member having a coverengaging face surrounded by an annular downwardly facing receivinggroove, said support member having an annular transversely curvedgroove-like bearing opposed to said bearing of said head member, and aplurality of independent segmental complementary forming jaws havingtransversely curved bearings rockably engaging the bearing of saidsupport member and having outwardly facing curved bearings coacting withsaid bearing on said head member whereby the jaws are actuated byrelative axial movement of the head and support members, said jawshaving inwardly projecting tips for engagement with the edge portion ofa cover rim to wrap it around the rim of the receptacle to which thecover is applied, said support member having stops above and below itssaid bearing for limiting themovement of the jaws.

3. A device for applying covers having bendable rims to receptacleshaving outwardly projecting rims, the device comprising a head memberprovided with a hand piece and having a downwardly projecting annularflange provided at its lower edge with an annular inwardly pro- Ijecting transversely curved rib-like bearing, a support member having acover engaging face surrounded by an annular downwardly facing receivinggroove, said support member having an annular transversely curvedgroove-like bearing opposed to said bearing of said head member, and aplurality of independent segmental complementary forming jaws havingtransversely curved bearings rockably engaging the bearing of saidsupport member and having outwardly facing curved bearings coacting withsaid bearing on said head member whereby the jaws are actuated byrelative axial movement of the head and support members, said jawshaving inwardly projecting tips for engagement with the edge portion ofa cover rim to wrap it around the rim of the receptacle to which thecover is applied, said support member having an annular stop surfacebelow its said bearing limiting closing movement of the jaws, the upperend of said support member being beveled providing a stop for the jawswhen the head member is in retracted relation to the support member.

4. A device for applying covers to receptacles having rims comprising ahead member provided with a hand piece and having a downwardlyprojecting annular flange provided with an annular inwardly facingrib-like bearing, a support member having an annular groove-like bearingopposed to said bearing on said head member, said head member beingaxially movable relative to said support member, and an annular seriesof segmental complementary forming jaws rockingly supported by saidbearing on said support member and having outwardly facing groove-likebearings coacting with said bearing on said head member whereby the jawsare simultaneously actuated by relative axial movement of the head andsupport members, said support member having annular stop surfaces aboveand below its said bearing limiting the opening and closing movement ofthe jaws.

5. A devicefor applying covers to receptacles having rims comprising ahead member provided with a hand piece and having a downwardlyprojecting flange provided with an annular inwardly facing bearing, asupport member having a bearing opposed to said bearing on said headmember, said head member being axially movable relative to said supportmember, and an annular series of segmental complementary forming jowsrockingly supported by said bearing on said support member and havingoutwardly facing bearings coacting with said bearing on said head memberwhereby the jaws are simultaneously actuated by relative axial movementof the head and support members, said support member having stopsurfaces above and below its said bearing limiting the opening andclosing movement of the jaws.

6. A device for applying covers to receptacles having rims comprising ahead member provided with a hand piece and having a downwardlyprojecting flange provided with an annular inwardly facing bearing, asupport member having a bearing opposed to said bearing on said headmember, said head member being axially movable relative to said supportmember, and an annular series of segmental complementary forming jawsrockingly supported by said bearing on said support member and havingoutwardly facing bearings coacting with said bearing on said head memberwhereby the jaws are simultaneously and positively actuated to closedand to open position by relative axial forward and retracting movementof the head and support members, said jaws having inwardly projectingtips at their lower ends provided with curved faces for engagement withthe edge portion of a cover rim of the receptacle to which the cover isapplied, said support member having stop surfaces above andbelow itssaid bearing limiting the opening and closing movement of the jaws.

7. A cover applying device comprisinga head member having an integraldownwardly projecting flange provided with an inwardly projectingannular rib-like bearing, a support member having an outwardly facingannular groove-like bearing opposed to said bearing of said head member,said support member being formed of upper and lower sections, the jointbetween the sections being in the plane of the center of saidgroove-like bearing of said support member and a plurality of segmentaljaws having bearing recesses on their outer sides coacting with saidbearing of said head member and projecting bearings on their inner sidescoacting with said groove-like bearing of said support member wherebythe jaws are actuated by the axial movement of the head member relativeto the support member, said jaws being engageable with said bearingswhen the support member sections are disconnected and being rockablysupported and retained thereby when the support member sections aresecured together, and screws accessible through said head member forconnecting said support member sections.

8. A cover applying device comprising a head member having an integraldownwardly projecting flange provided with an inwardly facing annularbearing, a support member having an outwardly facing annular bearingopposed to said bearing of said head member, said support of segmentaljaws having bearings on their outer sides References Cited in the fileof this patent rockingly engaged with said bearing of said head mem-UNITED STATES PATENTS her and hearings on their inner sides rockinglyengaged with said bearing of said support member whereby the Caneson1911 jaws are actuated by the axial movement of the head 5 232 g memberrelative to the support member, said aws being 1,257,709 Januchowsky eta1. Feb. 26, 1918 engageable with said bearings when the support membersections are disconnected and being rockably supported and retainedthereby when the support member sections are secured together.

